LET ALL BLINDNESS FALL AWAY!

Do you know anyone who is blind or seriously visually impaired? They may function amazingly well and live quite independently in spite of the significant challenges and limitations they must deal with every day. Still, the fact remains: They are not able to see clearly, if they’re able to see anything at all.

That fact puts those who are blind and seriously visually impaired in a far greater risk of danger if something or someone were to come unexpectedly into their presence or onto their path that they cannot see, or that they are ill-equipped to avoid or even recognize. Likewise, those without clear vision could also be a serious danger to others if they were to choose to ignore the presence of the people around them, pushing right through on their own determined paths in a self-focused, sightless, insensitive way. And there are certain activities, like driving a car, that those without sight should never do at any time. (At least not until a robotics or self-driving car is perfected!) There is neither any excuse for acting in such wrongful and foolish ways, nor is it possible to avoid the pain and suffering that would affect all involved when the inevitable crash comes.

We, too, can be blind or, at least, seriously visually impaired – spiritually, emotionally and relationally – when it comes to having a clear perspective on how our self-focused, sightless, and insensitive words and actions can cause serious damage to the lives of those around us, and to our own lives. It is, sadly and most often, upon those with whom our lives are most closely bound, those we claim to love the very most – our husbands, wives, children, parents, siblings and friends – that our blinded perspective wields its greatest chaos and destructive damage. Our God does not want us to be blind any longer, in any way – not spiritually, emotionally or relationally – to Him, to others or to ourselves!

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” – Isaiah 42:16

Our God reaches out to lead us and guide us on new, unknown and unfamiliar paths. Oh! But we don’t have to fear! These paths are fully known to and planned by our Holy God! These paths bring healing and freedom, wisdom and peace to our lives – and clearer sight to our spiritual, emotional and relational eyes. God will bring the light of His grace and truth to us – washing away the darkness of our sin and shame. God will make our rough places smooth (those rough places in life where we cannot bear to take another step) as we trust Him and His promise to walk with us and to never forsake us. And God will make the rough places within us smooth – by exposing our self-centered seeing and behaving to His light so that our own inner darkness will be burned away, and we will be set free. Walking on God’s paths will open our eyes and our hearts more and more fully to our God’s unfailing love for us. As we see and know God’s great love for us more clearly, we will more readily open our eyes to those around us and offer greater love, kindness, mercy and compassion to them.

Ahhhhh! Let all blindness fall away as we trust our God to lead us in His light and love!